Matthew Poole and continuators on Colossians 1:10

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing , being fruitfull in every good work , and encreasing in the knowledge of God .

They pray'd for the above mentioned gracious habits that the Colossians might exercise them in a course of life as it becomes those who are effectually called by the Gospel, to be the Sons of God, and the servants of Christ; suitable to the members of the body of Christ, see on, Eph. 4.1. Phil. 1.27. compared with, Rom. 16.2. 1 Thess. 2.12. & 2 Thess. 1.11. As the word God alone ordinarily connotes the Father, so Lord doth Christ: answerable to whose wisedom, holiness, and example, Christians professing a relation to him, and expecting benefit by his purchase should behave themselves, so that the Papists cannot from this walking worthy of the Lord justly infer a merit of condignity, behaving our selves as Christians being so far from any merit, or desert of ours that it is a debt, we being indispensably oblig'd to do so, practice being the end of our knowledge.

And this end we are to respect unto all pleasing, i. e. designing and endeavouring not in one thing onely or in few things, but in all things whatsoever are incumbent on us, we may find acceptance with our Lord and Master, c. 3.20. 1 Cor. 7.32. & 10.31. 1 Thess. 2.4. Heb. 12.28. all should be great and generous such as may best like our Lord, keeping themselves from the defilements of the age, Rev. 3.4.

Particularly fructifying, which in the sense may be joyned with being filled, v. 8. being fruitfull is a metaphorical expression borrow'd from fruitbearing Trees unto which Godly men & real Christians are compared, Psal. 1.3. Ioh. 15.8. and every good work is the fruit which these plants of the Lord, having his spirit as the seed remaining in them, 1 Ioh. 3.9. do bring forth of every sort from a right principle, 1 Tim. 1.5. according to rule warranted by God, Is. 29.13. Gal. 6.16. or having a call from him, for his glory, see 2 Cor. 9.8. Phil. 1.11. 2 Thess. 2.17. Heb. 13.21.

The Colossians were not yet perfect in knowledge, and therefore they pray'd that they might go on, and grow in grace and knowledge of God and Christ, 2 Pet. 3.18. the best here knowing but in part, 1 Cor. 13.9. therefore they desired these Christians as the Philippians, c. 3.10.12. and the Ephesians might come to their stature, Ephes. 4.13. see on the Texts.